Boat docking assistance device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a boat docking assistance device including a cable locking device/carriage assembly which slides along a cable/rope attached either to a boat or dock. According to one exemplary embodiment, the carriage is pulled from the helm area of the boat towards the stern as the boat is docking with a resistance provided by a locking cam arrangement. The carriage is attached to a dock pile using a hoop type arrangement fastened to the sliding carriage by a rope, which is placed on the pile by a boat operator as the boat approaches the dock associated with the pile.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/699,509, filed Sep. 11, 2012, by Joseph V. Pease Jr.et al, entitled “BOAT DOCKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE” and is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to boat line handling, and, inparticular, to an assembly for use in safely docking boats alongside adock.

An operator of a powerboat has no real control over the bow of theirboat when in idle forward motion, unless the boat is equipped with bowthrusters. For this reason, operators of powerboats do not generallytake their boat out alone because getting into and out of their dockpresents significant challenges.

Docking a boat typically requires that someone on board the boat eitherconnect a line to the dock or jump to the dock with a line or thatsomeone on the dock assist with such a line. In a situation when onlythe boat operator is present, such a method is particularly difficult toperform since the boat operator must leave their position at thesteering wheel or outboard motor control such that the boat's directionand velocity is, at least temporarily, not controlled. Such a lack ofcontrol can lead to damage to the boat, dock, pier or other boats in thearea as well as injury to the boat operator. Inclement weatherconditions including high winds and rain and rough water furtherincrease the difficulty encountered by a single boat operator attemptingto dock a boat and may escalate such damage or injury.

In addition, for all but the most skilled boater, docking a boatalongside a dock often involves an abrupt stop to the boat's velocityand may include bumping into the dock or other boats. While such minorcollisions have negligible results taken singly, over time these impactscan result in damage to the boat or dock.

Therefore, there is a need in the field of docking boats for a boatdocking assistance device which allows a single boat operator to dock aboat safely alongside a dock without allowing the boat to driftuncontrollably.

There is also a need in the field for a boat docking assistance devicewhich requires only an initial connection between the boat and dockbefore the device manipulates the boat into position alongside the dock.There is a further need for allowing such an initial connection to beperformed before the boat enters the dockside position.

Moreover, there is a need in the field of boat docking for a boatdocking assistance device which provides for proper docking with minimalimpact between the boat and the dock.

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide animproved boat docking assistance device which meets one or more of theseaddressed needs.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0194685, published Oct. 7,2004, by Slater, entitled “Boat Docking Assembly and Method of UseThereof” is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment of this disclosure, described is a boat dockingassistance device. The device comprises a cable locking deviceconfigured to selectably slide along a cable with a first predeterminedsliding resistance and configured to selectably slide along the cablewith a second predetermined resistance, and the cable locking deviceconfigured to attach to a dock line, the second predetermined slidingresistance greater than the first predetermined sliding resistance.

In another embodiment of this disclosure, described is another boatdocking assistance device. The device comprises a cable including afirst longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the firstlongitudinal end configured to be fixed to a first point on a boat, andthe second longitudinal end configured to be fixed to a second point onthe boat, the first point on the boat located nearer to a bow associatedwith the boat, relative to a stern associated with the boat, and thesecond point on the boat located nearer to the stern associated with theboat; a cable locking device configured to selectably slide along thecable with a first predetermined sliding resistance and configured toselectably slide along the cable with a second predetermined slidingresistance, and the cable locking device configured to attach to a dockline; and a loop operatively connected to the cable locking device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a boat approaching a slip according to anexemplary embodiment of a Boat Docking Assistance Device according tothis disclosure, wherein the cable is fixed to the boat.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a boat entering a slip alongside a dock andshowing the initial connection of the dock line to the dock piling asthe boat enters the slip for docking according to an exemplaryembodiment of a Boat Docking Assistance Device according to thisdisclosure, wherein the cable is fixed to the boat.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a boat in its final position in a slipalongside a dock using an exemplary embodiment of a Boat DockingAssistance Device according to this disclosure, wherein the cable isfixed to the boat.

FIGS. 4A-4C are detail views of an exemplary embodiment of a cablelocking device according to this disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are assembly views of the exemplary embodiment of acable locking device illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6A-6G include additional detail views of the exemplary embodimentof a cable locking device illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cable locking device, cable and loop arrangementaccording to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIGS. 8A-8D include detail views of a loop arrangement according to anexemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIGS. 9A-9D include detail views of a stopper according to an exemplaryembodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a boat approaching a slip according to anexemplary embodiment of a Boat Docking Assistance Device according tothis disclosure, wherein the cable is fixed to the dock.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a boat entering a slip alongside a dock andshowing the initial connection of the dock line to the dock pile as theboat enters the slip for docking according to an exemplary embodiment ofa Boat Docking Assistance Device according to this disclosure, whereinthe cable is fixed to the dock.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a boat in its final position in a slipalongside a dock using an exemplary embodiment of a Boat DockingAssistance Device according to this disclosure, wherein the cable isfixed to the dock.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a Boat Docking Carriage assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an assembly view of the Boat Docking Carriage shown in FIG.13.

FIGS. 15A-15E include detail views of the Boat Docking Carriage shown inFIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a Boat Docking Carriage Handle assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 17 is an assembly view of the Boat Docking Carriage Handle assemblyshown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a Boat Docking Carriage Handle shown inFIG. 17.

FIGS. 19A and 19B include detail views of the Boat Docking CarriageHandle shown in FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed in the Background section, this disclosure and theexemplary embodiments provided herein, provide a Boat Docking AssistanceDevice.

Described below and illustrated in the figures are two examples of anexemplary embodiment of a Boat Docking Assistance Device according tothis disclosure, however, it is to be understood that this disclosure isnot limited to only the example embodiments described herein.

There are three major parts of a Boat Docking Assistance Deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, as furtherdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1-12 below, i.e. example 1.

Part #1 (“Cable”)

For example, a plastic coated metallic cable. The cable is looped atboth ends. One end wraps around the rear/stern most cleat and the otherwraps around a cleat near the helm of the boat, usually about mid-boat.The cable should be adjustable so that it is taught around the cleats.The cable acts as a guide for Part #2 described below.

Part #2 (“Cable Locking Device”)

A long, skinny ellipse with a center hole through the length. The cabledescribed above is fed through the hole of the cable locking device. Thecable locking device has within itself a mechanism that can grab thecable and act as a brake, resisting motion as the cable locking devicemoves along the cable. The mechanism is controlled by a lever thatextends outside the cable locking device. The user can either turn thebrake on or off using this lever. When the lever is turned off, thecable locking device moves along the cable with ease in eitherdirection. When the lever is turned on, the cable locking device hassignificant resistance to motion moving along the cable in eitherdirection.

Part #3 (“Dock Line”)

The dock line may be configured with a loop for placing over a dockpile. According to one exemplary embodiment, it has an aluminum handlewith plastic-coated metallic cable coming out one end and coming back tothe same end to create a large loop. The other end of the handle has arope attached to it and the other end of the rope is attached to thecable locking device. There is an adjustment for the rope length builtinto the handle of the racket so that the user can define the distancebetween the cable locking device and the racket.

In general, the Boat Docking Assistance Device operates as follows. Whenthe operator of the boat is docking, the cable locking device should benext to the helm along the cable, with the brake turned on. The racket,which is connected to the cable locking device by rope, is sitting nextto the operator within reach. The operator docks the boat normally whichis to get the boat parallel and close to the dock. When the operator ofthe boat is physically close to the first pile of the dock, the operatortakes hold of the dock line loop and places the loop over a dock piling.The operator then pulls on the rope that connects the cable lockingdevice to the dock line loop to decrease the distance between the cablelocking device and the dock line loop. The operator then keeps the boatin near-idle forward motion. The rope that connects the cable lockingdevice to the dock line loop will quickly become tight, and at thispoint the cable locking device is functioning as a brake. This brakingaction not only slows the boat, but also torques the bow of the boatinto the dock. The cable locking device reaches the end of the cable atthe stern of the boat and will not move further along the cable.

Now the boat cannot move forward, and it does not need to because it iscompletely in the dock. With the engine still running in idle forwarddrive, the bow of the boat will be under constant torque towards thedock. The operator can now leave the helm and tie off the back of theboat and even exit the boat and tie off the bow. Once the boat issecured to the dock in an acceptable way, the operator can shut off thedocked boat and finish securing the boat to the dock.

Described below are more details of a Boat Docking Assistance Deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a boat docking system in accordance with thepresent disclosure is generally illustrated. The boat docking systemincludes a cable 8, cable locking device 12 and an attachable/detachabledock line loop 10 for positioning the boat in a slip alongside a dock.The dock 26 typically extends from a pier and often includes severalvertical pilings 20, 22, 24, etc. As shown, the dock line loop 10 isplaced on the piling as the boater approaches the dock.

The boat includes a midship cleat 6 and an aft cleat 4 to which firstand second ends of cable 8 are fixed. Notably, the cable may be keptwithin the boat and can be positioned tautly along the side of the boatas the boat approaches the dock. Alternatively, one or two more cablesmay be fixed to the boat on one or both sides of the boat to enabledocking the boat port or starboard side. The cable locking device isslidingly attached to the cable. Such attachment is typicallyaccomplished by passing the cable through a hole in the cable lockassembly. The hole is preferably sized such that the cable lockingdevice 12 may slide along the cable until contacting a stop 14 which istypically fixed at a position on the cable toward the second/aft end. Asshown in FIGS. 1-3, the dock line attached to the cable 8 includes aloop which is designed to facilitate connection with the verticalpiling.

FIG. 1 depicts the boat as it approaches the dock. The cable 8 ispositioned tautly along the side of the boat. When the boat is near thedock, the boat operator, or another person, connects the dock line loopto the cable locking device and places the loop of the racket over thedock piling. The dock line loop may be manually held as the boat movestoward the piling or supported by a pole supported by the boat operator,another person or the boat.

FIG. 2 depicts the initial connection between the cable locking device,the dock line loop and the dock piling. After connection, the boat'sforward movement causes the cable locking device to slide until the stop14 contacts the cable locking device.

FIG. 3 depicts the final position of the boat, cable locking device, thedock line loop and the dock piling.

FIGS. 4A-4C are views of one exemplary embodiment of a cable lockingdevice 12 as shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. As shown,the cable locking device includes an upper case 30, a lower case 32 anda dock line attachment hole 29.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are assembly views of the cable locking device shown inFIGS. 4A-4C. Notably, FIG. 5B includes a feed through hole 29A, 29B and29C to provide a means to attach a dock line loop. The cable lockingdevice, as shown, includes a lower case 34, an upper case 30, a squashplate 42, a center plate 32, a series of gears 50, 52, 40, 38 and 36,and a lever 44. Other components included in the device are lock nuts80, 82, spring pins 46 and 48, studs 31 and 33, shoulder bolts 50, 52,53 and 60-74, and spring assemblies 81 and 83.

Assembly Instruction for Football

Parts:

(2) 10-24 Lock nut

(2) Spring pin

(2) ¼-20 stud

(1) Coated cable

(1) Center plate

(1) Lock lever

(1) Lower housing

(8) No 10-24×⅜ LG

(2) No 10-24×⅞ LG

(1) ¼×½ LG shoulder bolt (“modified shoulder bolt”)

(4) Belleville spring assembly

(1) Squash plate

(1) Upper housing

(2) Small spur gear

(1) Large spur gear

Assembly Instructions:

-   1. Start with the center plate 32. This plate is CNC machined    aluminum, which has various threaded holes.-   2. Put the coated cable 8 through the hole in one end of the center    plate 32 and out the hole in the other end of the center plate 32.-   3. Attach the squash plate 42 to the center plate 32 by screwing the    squash plate 42 onto the center plate 32 with two (2) No 10-24×⅞ LG    bolts 50 and 52 and two (2) 10-24 lock nuts 80 and 82. Between the    lock nuts and the squash plate, place two (2) Belleville springs 81    and 83 on each bolt.-   4. The coated cable should ride in a recess between the squash plate    42 and the center plate 32. This recess is the same shape as the    coated cable.-   5. Slide the small spur gears 38 and 40 onto the corresponding ¼-20    studs 33 and 31.-   6. Install the spring pins 46 and 48 into the small spur gears 38    and 40 through the ¼-20 studs 31 and 33.-   7. Screw the ¼-20 studs 31 and 33 with small spur gears through the    center plate 32. The studs should just touch the squash plate 42,    not put force onto it.-   8. Attach the lock lever 44 to the large spur gear 36.-   9. Screw the modified shoulder bolt 53 into the center plate 32,    between the two (2) ¼-20 studs 31 and 33.-   10. Attach the large spur gear 36 with lock lever onto the modified    shoulder bolt 53 so that the lock lever 44 is approximately    perpendicular to the line made between the ¼-20 studs 31 and 33.-   11. Attach the upper housing 30 to the center plate 32 using    four (4) No 10-24×⅜ LG bolts 68, 70, 72 and 74.-   12. Attach the lower housing 34 to the center plate 32 using    four (4) No 10-24×⅜ LG bolts 60, 62, 64 and 66.

Installation of Cable to Locking Device:

The cable locking device slides along the cable. When you remove theloops from the cable, the cable locking device can slide on or off thecable. The removal of the loops happens at the turn-buckle.

Adjusting Cable Locking Resistance:

To adjust the resistance of the cable locking device, bolts 50 and 52are tightened or loosened to set the amount the two plates squeeze thecable, thus changing the resistance. According to one exemplaryembodiment, a dial or other control outside of the device can be used toadjust this friction (not shown).

With reference to FIGS. 6A-6G, illustrated is the cable locking devicein a locked position and an unlocked position.

With reference to FIG. 7, illustrated is a detailed view of the cablelocking device attached to a cable fixed to a boat and a dock lineaccording to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 8A-8D, illustrated is a loop arrangement, alsoreferred to as a racket, for placing over a pile according to anexemplary embodiment of this disclosure. The loop is secured to a dockline which is attached to the cable locking device. Additional detailsof the loop illustrated are described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. US 2004/0194685 which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

As shown, the racket includes a loop which is preferably made of cable104 or rope which is connected at each end to a clamp 102. A sleeve 100provides the rope with durability. The preferred sleeve 100 is comprisedof firm plastic. FIG. 8B shows a top view of clamp with internalcavities 110 and 112 depicted by dashed lines for clarity. The clamp 102is preferably formed by a top 117 and bottom 119 half, which areconnected by fasteners 116 and 118. The clamp forms a hole 106 whichattaches to the dock line attached to the cable locking device. Tocreate the loop, each end of the rope is placed in a cavity of thebottom half (or top half). Studs can extend into the rope and prevent itfrom moving within the cavity. The halves are then mated such that thestuds from the other half also extend into the rope. Fasteners 116 and118 are tightened so that each end of the rope is fixed in positionwithin the cavities.

With reference to FIGS. 9A-9D, illustrated is a stopper 14 according toan exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. The stop 14, similar to theclamp, is formed by a top 120 and bottom 122 half. A single cavity isformed when the halves are mated. Also formed is a flange which has agreater radius than the rest of the stop to provide a surface to contactthe cable locking device. The cable is placed in the cavity of one ofthe halves and the halves are mated. Fasteners are then inserted intothe halves to fix the stop in position.

Additional details of a similar stopper are described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. US 2004/0194685.

With reference to FIG. 10, illustrated is a boat as it approaches adock, wherein the cable is fixed to the dock and the cable lockingdevice selectably slides along the cable attached to the dock.

With reference to FIG. 11, illustrated is the boat of FIG. 10 enteringthe dock, wherein the cable is fixed to the dock and the cable lockingdevice selectably slides along the cable attached to the dock.

With reference to FIG. 12, illustrated is the boat of FIGS. 10 and 11 inits final position, wherein the cable is fixed to the dock and the cablelocking device selectably slides along the cable attached to the dock.

Now described below and illustrated in FIGS. 13-19 is another example ofan exemplary embodiment of a Boat Docking Assistance Device, i.e.example 2.

Boat Docking Carriage

Part #1 (“Dock Line”)

The dock line referenced has the same general function as the “cable”previously described.

The dock line is made generally from standard dock line, but could beany sort of line. For example, the dock line may be made of a syntheticor natural fiber, such as nylon, polypropylene, polyester, etc. The dockline may have a loop on one end, where the loop is attached to a cleatnear the stern of the boat. There is also a stopper forward of the loopto ultimately stop the “docking carriage” from sliding. The free end ofthe dock line can be tightened and secured to a cleat near the helm ofthe boat. The “docking carriage” rides along the dock line and createsresistance with it.

Part #2 (“Docking Carriage”)

The docking carriage is a molded plastic part with components within.The device is comprised of two pieces of plastic, an upper housing and alower housing, that when secured together with end caps create anelliptical part. The two halves form a channel that goes through thecenterline of the device. The dock line rides in this channel. Withinthe channel there is a locking cam and a dowel pin that act as amulti-resistance clutch. These are designed such that when the dockingcarriage is moving along the dock line in one direction, the locking camseparates from the dowel pin resulting in minimal resistance (firstprescribed resistance). When the docking carriage is moving in theopposite direction, the locking cam tightens onto the dowel pinresulting in a higher resistance (second prescribed resistance). A holethrough the docking carriage forms after the two halves are securedtogether. This hole is for attaching the docking carriage to the dockingcarriage handle.

Part #3 (“Docking Carriage Handle” or “Handle”)

The handle is comprised of two molded plastic halves (top and bottom)that are secured together to form a y-shaped handle. Within the handleis a channel that holds a metal cable. This metal cable is crimpedwithin the handle for strength and extends out to form a loop. Hydraulichose surrounds the metal cable to prevent damage to the boat. Near thebottom of the handle there is a hole formed after the two halves aresecured together. This hole is for attaching the handle to the dockingcarriage.

Described below and illustrated in FIGS. 13-19 are further details ofthe exemplary embodiment of a Boat Docking Assistance Device accordingto example 2 of this disclosure. For purposes of describing the BoatDocking Assistance Device illustrated in FIGS. 13-19, the cable lockingdevice 12, previously described, is now functionally referenced as aBoat Docking Carriage 200 and the attachable/detachable dock line withloop 10, previously described, is now functionally referenced as aDocking Carriage Handle Assembly 251.

With reference to FIG. 13, show is a Boat Docking Assistance Devicecarriage 200, previously referenced functionally as a “football”. Thecarriage 200 includes an upper housing 202 and a lower housing 204,which are made of plastic. As shown in assembly FIG. 14, two threadedaluminum end caps 206 and 208 are used to fasten the upper housing 2020to the lower housing 204. In addition, an aluminum locking cam 210 andpolyurethane dowel pin 212 arrangement provide the resistance necessarywhen the carriage 200 is pulled from the helm to the stern as previouslydescribed, where the hinged locking piece squeezes a rope used in placeof the previously described cable 8, creating a resistance to motion.After docking, the carriage 200 is pulled from the stern to the helmarea along the rope with minimal resistance to reset the Boat DockingAssistance Device.

With reference to FIG. 15A, shown is a top view of the carriage 250;

FIG. 15B is a detail view; FIG. 15C is a side view of the carriage 250;FIG. 15D is a cross sectional view of carriage 250 showing the lockingcam/dowel arrangement; and FIG. 15E is an end view of carriage 250.

With reference to FIGS. 16-19, described now is another exemplaryembodiment of the previously described attachable/detachable dock linewith loop 10. For purposes of this description, the illustratedattachable/detachable dock line with loop is referenced as a DockingCarriage Handle Assembly 251.

As shown in FIG. 16, the Docking Carriage Handle Assembly includes ahydraulic hose 252 which encases a cable (not shown) which is fastenedto a carriage handle 250.

As shown in the carriage handle assembly of FIG. 17, the carriage handle250 includes a top piece 254 and a bottom piece 256 which are fastenedtogether with fasteners 258, 260, 262, 264, 266 and 268; and theirrespective nuts 270, 272, 274, 276, 278 and 280.

The cable (not shown) encased in hydraulic hose 252 is crimped withcrimps 290 and 292, and is seated in the channel provided by the matingof the top piece 254 and bottom piece 256.

With reference to FIG. 18, illustrated is the mating of the top piece254 and bottom piece 256 of carriage handle 250.

FIGS. 19A and 19B provide additional detail views of carriage handle250.

While the disclosure has been described with respect to specificembodiments by way of illustration, many modifications and changes willoccur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understoodthat the appended claims are intended to cover all such modificationsand changes as fall within the scope of the disclosure.

1. A boat docking assistance device comprising: a cable locking deviceconfigured to selectably slide along a cable with a first predeterminedsliding resistance and configured to selectably slide along the cablewith a second predetermined resistance, and the cable locking deviceconfigured to attach to a dock line, the second predetermined slidingresistance greater than the first predetermined sliding resistance. 2.The boat docking assistance device according to claim 1, wherein thecable locking device is configured to slide along a cable including afirst longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the firstlongitudinal end configured to be fixed to a first point on a boat, andthe second longitudinal end configured to be fixed to a second point onthe boat, the first point on the boat located nearer to a bow associatedwith the boat, relative to a stern associated with the boat, and thesecond point on the boat located nearer to the stern associated with theboat.
 3. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 1,wherein the cable locking device is configured to be attached to a dockline including an attachable/detachable loop for securing to a dock. 4.The boat docking assistance device according to claim 1, the cablelocking device including a resistance selector control.
 5. The boatdocking assistance device according to claim 1, the cable locking deviceincluding a control to set the second predetermined resistance at one ofa plurality of resistances.
 6. The boat docking assistance deviceaccording to claim 1, the cable locking device including a squash plateconfigured to apply the second predetermined sliding resistance.
 7. Theboat docking assistance device according to claim 6, the cable lockingdevice including one or more gears operatively associated with a lever,the lever and gears used to apply the second predetermined slidingresistance.
 8. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 6,the squash plate configured to apply the first predetermined slidingresistance.
 9. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 1,the cable locking device configured to slide into one or more stopsoperatively connected to the cable.
 10. The boat docking assistancedevice according to claim 1, wherein the cable is made of metal orspectra braid and the tension of the cable is configured to beadjustable after the cable is fixed to the first and second points onthe boat.
 11. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 1,wherein the cable locking device is substantially football shaped and acable feed through hole extends from a first longitudinal end to asecond longitudinal end of the football shaped cable locking device. 12.A boat docking assistance device comprising: a cable including a firstlongitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinalend configured to be fixed to a first point on a boat, and the secondlongitudinal end configured to be fixed to a second point on the boat,the first point on the boat located nearer to a bow associated with theboat, relative to a stern associated with the boat, and the second pointon the boat located nearer to the stern associated with the boat; acable locking device configured to selectably slide along the cable witha first predetermined sliding resistance and configured to selectablyslide along the cable with a second predetermined sliding resistance,and the cable locking device configured to attach to a dock line; and aloop operatively connected to the cable locking device.
 13. A boatdocking assistance device comprising: a docking carriage configured toslide towards a stern of a boat along a rope attached alongside a boatwith a first sliding resistance provided by a locking cam in a firstposition and slide towards a bow of the boat along the rope with asecond sliding resistance provided by the locking cam in a secondposition, the first sliding resistance greater than the second slidingresistance, and the docking carriage configured to attach to a loopindependent of the rope attached alongside the boat.
 14. The boatdocking assistance device according to claim 13, the carriagecomprising: an upper housing; a lower housing; a locking cam; and adowel pin.
 15. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 13,wherein the carriage includes a hole to attach a loop independent of therope attached to the boat.
 16. The boat docking assistance deviceaccording to claim 13, further comprising a rope adapted to be attachednear the stern of the boat and substantially near the helm of the boat.17. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 16, furthercomprising: a docking carriage handle assembly configured to be attachedto the docking carriage, the docking carriage handle including a loop.18. The boat docking assistance device according to claim 17, whereinthe docking carriage handle includes a cable within a non-markingmaterial operatively attached to a docking carriable handle.